Steroid or glucocorticoid medications are used to treat a variety of medical conditions. They can be administered by mouth, nasal sprays or inhalers, eyedrops, or injections. No matter how the medication is taken, up to 20% of patients taking steroid medications develop elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).

If eye pressure does become elevated, sometimes the steroid medicine can be stopped or decreased, helping to alleviate the problem. If the steroid medication was given by injection in or around the eye, the eye pressure may be harder to control.

If medical therapy does not adequately lower IOP, surgery may be required. As with other forms of glaucoma, if IOP can be controlled, patients tend to do well.

(c) 2007 The American Academy of Ophthalmology